Mining Safety and Health Research at NIOSH

The U.S. mining sector has the highest fatality rate of any industry in the country. Fortunately, advances made over the past three decades in mining technology, equipment, processes, procedures, and workforce education and training have significantly improved safety and health. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Safety and Health Research Program (Mining Program) has played a large role in these improvements. An assessment of the relevance and impact of NIOSH Mining Program research by a National Research Council committee reveals that the program makes essential contributions to the enhancement of health and safety in the mining industry. To further increase its effectiveness, the Mining Program should proactively identify workplace hazards and establish more challenging and innovative goals toward hazard reduction. The ability of the program to successfully expand its activities, however, depends on available funding.Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 IntroductionPart I: Programmatic Evaluation, 2 Description of the Mining Program3 The Ideal Mining Safety and Health Research Program4 Evaluation of Relevance and Impact of the NIOSH Mining Program5 Progress in Targeting New Research Areas6 Emerging Issues in Mining Safety and Health7 Synthesis of RecommendationsPart II: Evaluation of Strategic Research Areas, 8 Review of Respiratory Disease Prevention Research9 Review of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Prevention Research10 Review of Research on the Reduction of Cumulative Musculoskeletal Injuries11 Review of Traumatic Injury Prevention Research12 Review of Mine Disaster Prevention and Control Research13 Review of Ground Failure Prevention Research14 Review of Surveillance, Training, and Intervention Effectiveness ResearchReferencesA A Framework for the Review of Research Programs of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health B Information Provided by the NIOSH Mining Safety and Health Research Program C NIOSH Mining Ergonomics Research Program ReviewD Biographical Sketches of Committee MembersE Committee on Earth Resources Roster F Board on Earth Sciences and Resources Roster